The Metamorphosis: Book Review


Book Review

Title: The Metamorphosis
Author: Franz Kafka
Genre: Fiction

The Metamorphosis tells the story of a salesman named Gregor who wakes up one morning to find that he has turned into an insect. He and his family are trying to grapple with this change. 

The book is written in third person.The metamorphosis goes deeper than just a man's alteration in his appearance. It's about a man who is the sole breadwinner of his family and how a certain change in him causes a chain of reactions amidst his family. From shock to grief, pity and indifference, Gregor sees the transformation in not onyl himself but his entire family's reactions towards him. It can be seen as a metaphoric representation of a certain illness and the attitude of his closed ones towards it. 

Change clearly is the main theme represented by the author. Not only is there a transformation in Gregor but also in his sister. There is a subtle reference to money that is mentioned in several instances in the book. Another interesting aspect is how Gregor still possesses the mind of a human despite having a body of an insect. 

Readers are bound to wonder about why the protagonist is converted into an insect. The book is strange and bizarre in many ways. Yet its symbolic representation and the psychological struggle with an identity is probably what makes it an interesting read. The metamorphosis is a story that can be analysed in various ways which is bound to give rise to different perspectives and viewpoints. 
-- 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

100 meters : Movie Review

Image
Watched this inspiring Spanish film over the weekend on Netflix!  100 meters is a based on a true story of a man named Ramon who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He is told that he will be able to even walk 100 meters in the next one year. Determined to prove this wrong, he takes up the challenge of doing the grueling Ironman race which involves 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking and 26.2 miles running.  With the help of his father in law with whom he initially shares a shaky relationship with, he begins to train relentlessly. Ramon faces challenges on the way and is almost pushed to the brink of being bed ridden. He overcomes every hurdle with grit and a positive frame of mind. It remains to be seen if he actually finishes the race.  This movie struck a chord in many ways. A triathlon is not just a race-its a humbling journey which alters your life forever. The training period is especially a challenging one as it demands a lot out of you. The film showcases the importance of f
Read more

The Chennai resistance

Image
-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=3cd78548-4240-47c3-a608-8432df372190 Mentality of a Chennaite is something that never fails to amaze me and other people of different cities. This city has a rich cultural heritage and people indeed try their best to preserve it as much as possible. However in spite of globalization descending upon them, with BPOs lurking at every corner, with the Burgers and pizzas invading their eateries, the typical chennaite will go by his time tested staple food. Times have changed, and Chennai itself is now invaded by population from other cities not only in India but form the world, thanks to the IT boom and the automobile hub centre that it has become. One can see the metamorphosis almost everywhere; old buildings have given way to modern architecture, arterial roads choked to the brim with modern vehicles, individual bungalows replaced by the apartments. Only the age old temples have withstood this onslaught, but they too
Read more

The Call of the Wild : Movie review

Image
I had recently re read The Call of the Wild by Jack London.  Its a journey of a dog named Buck which gets kidnapped and ultimately finds its true calling amidst the wild.  Buck leads a cozy life in sunny California until that day when he is kidnapped. To his dismay, Buck finds himself as a part of a pack of sled dogs. The story traces his change, survival and how he ultimately finds his place as a leader of the pack. Buck is also subjected to harsh treatment-the aspect that makes several readers hate the book especially dog/animal lovers.  The movie is a kinder version of the book. It focuses largely on the rapport between John Thorthon and Buck. John Thorthon played by Harrison Ford posts letters to his dead son and manages to rescue Buck from being beaten to death. He adopts Buck as his own son and ultimately ventures into the Alaskan Wilderness where Buck finds his home.  While some of the critics may have been disappointed with the movie, I personally found it en
Read more